Refrigerating apparatus



1941- J. A. MACREADY Emu. ,248,036 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheefi 1' y 1941- I I J. A. MACREADY ETAL, 2,248,036 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5/ a. z 111 a 1 an Patented July 1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Delaware Original application September 29, 1928, Serial No. 309,216, now Patent No. 2,051,874, dated August 25, 1936.

Divided and this application August 10, 1934, Serial No. 739,252. Renewed August 18, 1939 4' Claims.

This invention relates torefrigerating apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for cooling beverages, such as drinking water.

This application is a division of our copending application S. N. 309,216, filed September 29, 1928 and granted as Patent Number 2,051,874 for Refrigerating apparatus.

This application relates to water coolers, for instance of the type described in our Patent No. 1,847,092.

An object of this invention is to provide a sanitary top for a water cooling apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a water cooling apparatus embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is another vertical cross-sectional View taken transversely to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a slightly modified form of apparatus; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

Referring for the present more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a refrigerating apparatus embodying features of this invention may comprise a water cooling cabinet having a water cooling system mounted therein. The water cooling system is so related to the cabinet that the parts of the water cooling system which are liable to necessitate adjustment or repairs, or which must be assembled within the cabinet, are readily accessible therein. The cabinet and the water cooling system are thus correlated to furnish a very eflicient water cooling apparatus.

The cabinet may comprise metal framework having vertical corner angle irons 22 joined at the top by horizontal corner angle irons 23. The bottoms of the angle irons 22 may be joined by horizontal corner angle irons 24. If desired, the horizontal angle irons 24 may be provided with ornamental pedestal members 25. The pedestal members 25 may be provided with horizontal attaching plates 26 through which bolts 21 may pass in order to attach the same to the angle irons 2d. The pedestal members 25 may be provided with an upwardly directed extension 23 adapted to form a channel 29 intermediate the extension 28 and the iron 24 for receiving the bottoms of the panels hereinafter to be more fully described to form one specific embodiment of quickly detachable panel securing means. The angle iron members of the frame may be joined at the corners in any suitable manner and may be reinforced by gussets 30, which may be riveted or spot-welded to the angle irons of the frame.

The frame heretofore described, or any other suitable frame, may have mounted thereon the panel structure of the cabinet. The panel structure may comprise four vertical panels 3| two of which disposed opposite one another are provided with vertical flanges at their vertical edges. The other two opposed panels may be provided with substantially straight edges, although these edges may be slightly offset for receiving the vertical flanges of the first two panels to thereby enhance the appearance and efllciency of the joint thus formed. When assembled, the panels 3| are adapted to interlock atthe corners. The lower edges of some or all of the panels are adapted to fit in the channels 29, and, for convenience, the bottoms of the panels may be offset at in order to provide an efficient joint with the channels 29. The panels thus assembled are held from spreading apart at the top by any suitable means such as by means of the top plate 31. The top-plate 31 may be provided with a downwardly directed flange 38, which, in this particular embodiment, is a continuous flange around the entire periphery of the plate 31. The upper portions of the panels may be provided with a slight bend 39 in order to hold the panels more snugly under the flange 38 and thus prevent rattling. The tops of the panels 3| and 32 terminate a slight distance below the top 40 of the flange 38. Thus the panels, when they are to be removed, may be lifted slightly so that their lower edges are lifted above the upwardly directed extension 28. The lower portion of each panel may be then swung outwardly and the entire panel swung slightly downwardly in order to remove its upper edge from under the flange 38. In this particular embodiment, either one of the flanged panels may be first removed Without disturbing other panels. Also after removing both of the opposed flanged panels 3|, either one of the other two opposed panels may be removed. It is thus apparent that the side panel structure of the cabinet may be assembled without the use of screws, bolts or other fastening devices of that character, and that the panels may be removed almost instantaneously.

If the mechanical refrigerating system includes an air-cooling condenser, or if it is otherwise de- 'sirable, louvers 41' may be struck either outwardly or inwardly in the panels for permitting circulation of air into the cabinet. These louvers are also convenient when removing the panels, as they may be used as handles for the purpose. It is obvious that the louvers may be omitted and handles-of some other character may be provided if desired.

The top plate 3'! may be of any suitable construction, but in this particular embodiment, it is preferred to have a substantially flat portion 50 from which the downwardly directed bowl; 5i.

may be integrally pressed. The fi'ange 38 maybe integrally formed by providing the curved portion 40 which also acts as a rim for preventing water from running down the sideof the cabinetif it should be splashed on portion The panels 3i and the top-31 maybe formed. ofiporcelain enameled sheet metal. and. thus. present a very attractive appearance as well as a very sanitary construction. The bottom of the bowl 5 I.

may be provided with a countersunk opening 52-to which the-drain fitting 53 may be attached. The drain fitting 53 isof any suitable construetion, and may include a lower flanged structure 1 54- having threaded engagement with an upper flanged structure 55 adapted to pinch. between their edgesthe periphery of the countersunk openingiz,

Another- .opening '56 may be provided. along the slanting: portion of the bowl 51 attached to the top" 31;. The fitting. 5.1..may in,- cludeawa-ter. dischargenozzle having a lip guard provided with an opening... as is conventional in suchbubblers, throughv which the stream from the nozzle isadapted to pass. The lower por- I tion of the-guardmay also be provided. with openings. topermitthe fitting. to drain. completely The upper part. of. the fitting 5'! .has a. plate or flanged. and. threaded engagement. with a lower portion 62..thereof. and these.- two portions are adaptedto engagebetween them with suitable. gaskets,. if. necessary, the.portion-.cf the bowl surrounding the opening .56. adapted. to; be connected by suitable tubing to. a

combined automatic pressure-:regulatorv and. valve .63.. The valve. is adap.ted., to' be movedby a spring returnedhanclle 641. The fitting B3. is. also of -the flanged and threaded engagement type adapted to engage a portion ofthe plate. '3] in the manner heretofore described. for fittings 53 and 51.. An; automatic pressuresregulatcr within.the fitting, 63 limits the pressure on. the. nozzle of the ,bubbler.

on some. portion of the bowl 5! and forms at its.

apex :the. desired stream for permitting a person to: drink withouttouching the fixture 51. The

maximum pressure permitted by theautomatic' pressure-regulator prevents the streampfrom being directed beyond the periphery of;the bowl 5L:

The top plate 31 may be moved slightly up,-

. wardly when desired. merely by. unscrewing. the 'topportion 55.10). the drainffitting 53.. Since the --connections; between: the "plate. til; andthe tank; tfizareffixib-le, the top: plate 31 may :be .moved' Through.

. this openinga bubbling cup fitting 51. may be 0 v The fitting-63 is connected. by means of flexible ,copperrtubing 65 with a water. cooling. tank. (not shown) and located relatively to the tank 66 and to the frame of the cabinet. If desired the drain fitting 53 may be rigidly secured to the frame by means of a U-shaped metal piece- 68 to which the lower portion 54- of the drain fitting 53: may be bolted. If desirable, suitable cushioning means 69 may ...be interposed between the plate 31 and the top angle irons. 23.

be made'b'etween the top 31 and the tank 66 i andthe top may then be lowered into place.

The pipe connections can thus The water. cooling mechanism may be of any suitable construction. For instance and as before statedit may include a substantially cylindrical tank (not shown) Within casing 66 and suitably insulated therefrom. An evaporator (not v shown) of: a closed refrigerating system is mount- 7 ed Within the water cooling tank in any suitable or conventional; manner. The water cooling evaporator may be of the character disclosed in the" patent to R. G. Osborn, No. 1,556,708, patented Octoberi 13, 1925, with the. exception that. the

' depending; loops maybe omitted, if desired. The

e at d-r is $8.. The motor 94 maybe provided witha fan water' coo-ling evaporator may have: aniend' plate carrying afloat valve-controlled valve. and; outlet fitting substantially off the type. disclosed in the patentgtdOsborn; Thewater'from any. suitable supply enters the water cooling tank. through". the inlet and. leaves the. tank through the outlet 86 (seellig. 1). Either the: inlet 85'. or the outlet 86 may be positioned at a point where the water is last to freeze should the water in: the cooling tank he accidentally frozen; This; is in accordance with; the disclosure: in: the Patent No. 1,843,092 hereinbefore: referred to- The: casing fifiycontaining' the. water cooling. tank together with the insulation therebetween. maybe suspended from the upper: angle iron. 23: by means of straps 8'1 passing underneath. thecylind-rical casingfi'.

A pan 88' may be. suspended from. the casing 66 in order to catch any condensation: which may form on this; casing. However, under some circumstances the heat, generated by the compressor, hereinafter tobe described", may be sufficient to prevent the formation. of. enoughcondensation to cause the same: to drip in the pan 88. If any water. fiows'intorthe pan 88 it isevaporated by the heat from: the compressor or by the air flowing through, the cabinet,

The liquid cooling; evaporator may be; of the volatile or unvclatilerefrigerant type; In this particular embodiment, it may be a float-valvecontrcl-led evaporator of the: type disclosedinthe patent to- Osborn. -The= evaporator 16 may be supplied withliquidrefrigerant from any suitable source. For instance, it may be. supplied with liquid refrigerant by arefrigerant liqne-iying. unit which may be located within the cabinet 26, if desired.v Jf he. refrigerant liquef'ying unit may cempi ise a compressor 9! delivering compressed refrigerant toacondenser 92 which delivers liquefied refrigerant to a receiver 93 Theliq-uid-retrigerantin the receiver 9 3 may be delivered the pipe 13 to: the evaporator.-

The refrigerant evaporated in the evap crater; may be returned by the pipe 19 to the compressor 91;, preferably-in the crankcaseof a,

the compressor. The compressor 9+ maybe driven. by a motor 94 which'may be connected snapswit h lit perated. by anexpansiblebele lows'91' wh h maybe connected with the evaperant line i9 by means oi the pipe 99 which is adapted to cause circulation of air for the cooling of the condenser 92, the compressor BI and the motor 94. The refrigerant liquefying unit 90 may be mounted on a sub-- stantially box-like angle iron frame I which may be provided with pedestals IOI adapted to rest on rubber mountings I02 and which may be laterally spaced from the frame by means of rubber cushions I03.

The water cooling apparatus may be slightly modified. For instance it may be of the type disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4 in which there are two water outlets H0 and III. The Water outlet I10 may be of the bubbling cup type and may be controlled by the combined valve and pressure regulator I I2. The fittings H2 and I II may have a water regulator which maintains a substantially constant pressure on either of the fittings H0 and III and thus limits the pressure of the stream leaving these fittings. The fitting III may be of the type ordinarily used to fill tumblers. In this particular embodiment, the top plate 31a has the two bowls 5Ia "and 5Ib. These two bowls are symmetrical with respect to each other. Thus either the type of fitting III or the type of fittings III] and H2 may be installed in either of the bowls 5Ia or 5Ib. The opening II 6 may be plugged when type of fitting III is used or it may be used for the fitting 0 while at the same time the opening III would be used for a valve fitting such as II2. It is thus seen that these fittings are interchangeable in either of the bowls 5Ia or 5Ib. The panel structure for the water cooling apparatus disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4 is substantially the same as that heretofore disclosed with the exception that the top plate 31a is made for a double water outlet. The drain fittings 530. are connected by means of U-shaped angle irons 68a to the upper angle iron members 23a. The tank 10a is connected by means of flexible tubing 65a and 65b with the fittings III and H2 in order that the plate 31a. may be moved upwardly merely by the removal of the drain plates 55a.

In this embodiment the compressor I20 delivers compressed refrigerant to a water cooled condenser I2I. The condenser I2I delivers liquefied refrigerant through the pipe I22 to the evaporator I23. The evaporated refrigerant returns by the pipe I24 to the compressor I20. The compressor I20 is driven by means of a motor I25 controlled by a snap switch I26. The snap switch I 26 is operated by an expansible bellows I21 connected by a pipe I28 with the evaporated refrigerant line I24. Water from any suitable supply is delivered by a pipe I30 to the condenser control switch I3I which is operated by an expansible bellows I32 which is connected tothe refrigerant pressure line I33. Thus water is delivered through the pipe I34 to the condenser I2I whenever required by the portion of the condenser I20. Another branch I35 from the pipe I30 delivers water to the tank Inc where it is cooled by the evaporator I23. The cooled water is delivered by the pipe I36 to the fittings H0 and III. The valve II2 controls the fiow of water to the fitting III). Waste lines 36a lead from the bowls Em and 5Ib. These are connected to the drain pipe I40 which also receives the discharge from the condenser I2I by means of a pipe I4I connected to the water jacket of the condenser I2I. The structure of the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is more particularly described, in some respects, in the Patent No. 1,847,092 hereinbefore referred to. The lower pedestal structure I50 may differ slightly from the pedestals 25. In this particular embodiment, the pedestal structure I50 may be a solid metal square structure which is adapted to be connected to the vertical angle iron members 22a similarly to the pedestal structure member 25. The outer casing 12a may be sup.- ported by longitudinal angle iron members I5I connected to the angle iron members 22a. Access is provided to the evaporator I23 by the removal of the panel 32a and by the removal of the insulation I52 at the end of the casing 12a.

The evaporator I23 may be of the type more fully described in the patent to Jesse G. King. The fins I23a. in the evaporator maybe made of a shape to render the evaporator readily insertable in and removable from the tank 10d. For instance, the fins I23a may be circular, having approximately the same diameter as the cylindrical float chamber to which the numeral I23 has been applied in Fig. 3. Thus the evaporator may be readily inserted through a circular opening in end wall of the tank 10a. The opening may be closed by a flanged construction on the float chamber.

The heat from the compressor in water coolers embodying this invention also aids in preventing condensation on the waste water bowls. By making the bowls integral with the top and countersunk therein, the heat from the machinery prevents condensation on the bowls.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a water cooler having an inner frame and outer panel members covering said frame, a sheet metal top member having a well portion, a flat portion surrounding said well and an embossed portion surrounding said fiat portion and terminating in a skirt overlying said panel members and spaced therefrom on all sides of said cooler so as to prevent water from running down the sides of said panel members, each of said portions being formed integral with said top member, said well portion extending below the general plane including said other portions and provided with a water bubbler and a drain plate attached to a stationary drain pipe carried by said frame, the underside of said fiat portion overlying said inner frame and being directly supported thereby on all sides of said cooler, said drain plate and drain pipe forming the sole means for securing said top member to said supporting frame thereby producing a stable but quickly removable cooler top assembly.

2. In a water cooler having an inner frame and outer panel members covering said frame, a sheet metal top member having a well portion, a flat portion surrounding said well and an embossed portion surrounding said flat portion and terminating in a skirt overlying said panel members and spaced therefrom on all sides of said cooler so as to prevent water from running down the sides of said panel members, each of said portions being formed integral with said top member, said well portion extending below the general plane including said other portions and provided with a water bubbler and a drain plate attached to a stationary drain pipe carried "by said frame, the underside of said fiat portion overlying said inner frame and being directly supported thereby on at least two opposite sides of said cooler, said drain plate and, drain pipe forming, the sole means for securing said top member to said supporting;

skirt overlying said vertical outer casing, each of,

said portions being formed integral with said top member, said well portion extending below the general plane including said other portions and provided on top with a Water bubbler, a valve and a drain plate attached to astationary drainpipe carried by said frame, a flexible water pipe extending from said body to said va1ve,,a Waterflow connection between said valve and bubbler, said drain plate. and drain pipe formingthe' sole means for securing said top member over said vertical outer casing thereby producing a stable but quickly removable cooler top assembly.

4. In a water cooler; an outer vertical casing enclosing the main portion oflsaid cooler, an integ ral metal top provided with a well portion and a skirt overlying the sides of said casing, said top provided on its upper sidewith a bubbler, and a drain opening, a valve secured to said top with a centrol handle extending from its upper part, a flexible water pipe extending from said main portion to said valve, a Water connection between said; valve and bubbler, a stationary drain pipe in said mainportion, and means extending through said drain opening for securing said top over said casing.

JOHN A. MACREADY. DE WIT'I H. WYATT. 

